Buster Posey's ankle no longer an issue

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- In his brief big-league career, Buster Posey is a two-time world champion, the National League MVP and one of the faces of Major League Baseball.

What can he possibly do for an encore?

"There are things," Posey said Thursday, flashing a sly smile. "I'll keep them to myself, though."

If Posey has found flaws in his 2012 game, he has discovered things that aren't readily apparent to the rest of baseball. Posey led the majors with a .336 average last season and hit 24 homers while driving in 100 runs for the first time. He had a strong season behind the plate, and by mixing in time at first base, he was able to play 148 games, far exceeding expectations.

In the postseason, Posey hit one of the biggest homers in franchise history, a grand slam off Cincinnati's Mat Latos that helped clinch Game 5 of the National League Division Series. He hit another huge shot in Game 4 of the World Series as the Giants swept the Detroit Tigers.

For many professional athletes, the postscript to such a season would have been filled with appearances and the spoils of being a world champion. But Posey, 25, is far from your normal superstar.

He spent the offseason back home in Georgia, working out for the 2013 season and spending time with his wife and twin children. When MLB Network's cameras caught up with Posey on the day he was named MVP, he was in a school, helping his mother with a charity event.

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Posey did take one trip of note over the offseason, visiting New York for the presentation of his MVP trophy. While there, Posey toured the Yogi Berra Museum with its namesake, and the two talked catching and took a look at love letters that Berra once wrote to his wife.

"He has great penmanship, by the way," Posey said Thursday.

Then it was back home, where according to his father, Demp, the league's best catcher focused on not being satisfied with the season he had just completed.

"He and I have talked about it, how it's easy to get complacent with all he's done in such a short amount of time," Demp Posey told the Albany, Ga., Herald. "But the great thing about Buster is that none of this changes him. He loves to play the game, loves to get better, loves to put in the hours.

"He'll come back next year and work harder than ever, because that's just who he is."

Posey again is putting in long hours this spring, but this time those hours are dispersed quite differently than they were a year ago. Posey's 2012 spring was centered on rehab for his surgically repaired ankle. An entourage of coaches and trainers followed Posey's every move as he steadfastly got back to form.

On Thursday, Posey squatted alone in a bullpen at Scottsdale Stadium, waiting to catch Barry Zito's throwing session. Posey was no different from any of the other catchers in camp, and for the Giants, that's the best news of all.

"I'm still amazed at where he is at as far as the injury," manager Bruce Bochy said. "It's like it never happened. It's not even an issue -- it's not even discussed."

Posey said he's spending significantly less time in the trainer's room and usually feels ankle stiffness only as he's getting out of bed in the morning.

"But usually it loosens up pretty quick," he continued. "It's been great. I don't think I'm so naive to expect that I won't feel it anymore. I'm sure there will be ups and downs, but right now I feel good."

Ryan Vogelsong extended his bullpen session on Thursday, throwing for several minutes after the other pitchers in his group had finished. Vogelsong is preparing to represent the United States in the World Baseball Classic.

"It's going to be so vital for us to make sure these guys are ready, and that's why his 'pen was a little longer," Bochy said. "He's got to be game-ready. He feels good and looks good, and we expect him to be ready to go."

Bochy said he spoke to Team USA manager Joe Torre on Wednesday and was told that Vogelsong would start the team's second game.

"With all he had to go through, this is an honor for him," Bochy said. "We're happy for him. It's a pretty amazing story."

Friday is the reporting date for position players, and Saturday will bring the Giants' first full-squad workout. Aside from Angel Pagan, Marco Scutaro and Joaquin Arias, all of the returning position players have reported to camp.